Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

Earlier today we voted on eight guillotined motions that were placed on the Order Paper by the Government. Can I add two more? The Government published the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009 this afternoon and it contains very far reaching proposals. Given the fact that the Dáil is due to rise next week, there is no way that the House will have had an opportunity to scrutinise this Bill in a proper manner. I also read in the newspapers that the Government is about to publish the enforcement of court orders (amendment) Bill 2009 tomorrow, which it wants to "push through" the House by next week.

This is no way to deal with legislation and Parliament is being treated in a contemptuous fashion by the Government. We have eight motions dealing with guillotines, I have referred to two more and I am sure there will be other examples between now and the close of business. The courts occasionally refer to the intention of the Dáil when matters are being deliberated in the High Court or the Supreme Court. How can the courts look to the intention of the Dáil if we have not had an opportunity to address the matter in any meaningful way whatsoever?

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